Local Love: Icebox Coffee

Any other coffee lovers out there? I could pretty much drink coffee any time, but in the summer I am all about a good iced coffee. Enter Icebox Coffee, a local company that cold brews their blends right here in Birmingham. The first time I came across the company was downtown at Pepper Place Market, where you can pick up a cup while you're wandering through the vendors on Saturday morning. Their coffee concentrate comes in the niftiest bottle, where you can easily measure the about you're using to create whatever coffee concoction you're craving.
The bottle I received was New Orleans Blend, and first I mixed 1.5oz of concentrate with 4-5oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, a half packet of sweetener, and some ice. Also, I got out my handy little milk frother and foamed a little milk to add to the top. Their recipes call for using 1 oz. of concentrate for every 4 oz. of milk or water, but I like strong coffee so I used a little more. Yum. It was a refreshing, light pick-me-up that I definitely needed.
I decided to try something a little different, so I mixed up two servings of cold coffee according to their directions and poured it into popsicle molds. To each mold I added about 1/2 to 3/4 of a teaspoon of hazelnut cream. They didn't come out as creamy as I had hoped, so next time I think I'll use milk instead of water when I mix up coffee pops. They still tasted great!

I've found that the rest of my Icebox coffee has been perfect for mornings when I forget to make a pot of coffee or am running late--I just pour a little in a to-go cup, add almond milk and splenda and head out the door. Sunday morning I whipped up a little 2point Weight Watchers Iced Mocha with it. From what I hear you can find Icebox Coffee at Whole Foods (here's a list of other places to buy), and I'm definitely going to have to pick up another bottle. They just released their Madagascar Vanilla and I'm dying to give it a try! Have you had Icebox Coffee? If you want to try before you buy a whole bottle, stop by their booth at Pepper Place on any given Saturday morning during market season!

Icebox Coffee provided me with a sample of their coffee in hopes that I might review it. I am not being compensated for this post. Any product that I recommend is solely because it is something I enjoy.

Wedding Happies + a Giveaway

Does anyone else just love Swoozie's? It's one of those shops that I can't really go past without stopping in to check out what's new. So when I was invited to come browse with a group of bloggers I couldn't say no! They have a huge selection, things for every occasion. With my wedding only 5 months away (eek!) I find myself browsing around their selection of wedding things every time I stop in. They have some of the best stationary--Rifle Paper Company is one of my personal favorites that they carry.
I love their selection of glittery gold decorated glasses and metallic embossed note cards. I'm pretty sure that every time I stop in I find something new to fall in love with. That burlap wine bottle bag (plus a bottle of wine) would make the cutest happy for a couple of newlyweds moving into their first home.
What kind of southern girl would I be if I didn't point out that most of the things you find at Swoozie's can be personalized. Y'all know southerners love their monograms. From bags to glasses and cutting boards to stationary, you can add a personal touch to almost any of the gifts you pick up. (And since it's graduation time as well as wedding season, they have great graduation gifts, too!)
Are you craving a shopping spree at Swoozie's? Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $20 gift card to Swoozie's to pick up a gift for your favorite grad, engaged couple, newlyweds, or something for yourself!

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We Made Macarons

What girl doesn't have a slight obsession with macarons? They're quite a finicky little cookie, but they are just so cute! So on a cloudy Sunday afternoon, I got together with Meredith and Beth and we tried our hand at making a batch. Meredith found the recipe that we went by in the May 2014 issue of FOOD Network Magazine. You can find it here.
Instead of making our entire batch one flavor, we split it into three: Raspberry Almond, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Lemon Vanilla. When we split the batter, I ended up in charge of the Lemon Vanilla. Here's what I learned: For vibrant color, we needed to add a bit more food coloring than the recipe called for. I almost doubled the drops of yellow that I added to my macaron batter and they still came out a little more pale than I hoped. Using a Silpat is important. I noticed that the cookies baked using the Silpat baked a lot better than those baked on parchment paper--they had less air bubbles and they came out more dense and in better shapes.
The recipe warns not to make them on a rainy day because humidity matters when baking macarons, though in the South it is pretty difficult to find a time when it isn't humid, so we just went for it. In the end, I think that they might have baked a little better if it had been more sunny that day because a lot of them cracked pretty easily when we were filling them. Speaking of filling, them Lemon Vanilla macarons were filled with Lemon Curd, Raspberry Almond with seedless Raspberry Jam, and the Blueberry Cheesecake with a blueberry jam + cream cheese mixture.
They came out pretty tasty, especially for our first attempt, though I found that I wanted the fillings to be...creamier maybe? They were really light, especially the tart Lemon Curd with the sweet vanilla cookie, but they didn't hold their shape well and the cookies sort of slid apart when left sitting. Next time I try my hand at these I think I'll do some research on the perfect filling. I think this recipe for S'mores Macarons will be next on my list.
Once we put them in the oven, we tried to sit around and talk, but we were too excited to see how they were going to turn out. We kept anxiously checking them while they baked to make sure they weren't burning or cracking. The recipe says to bake them at 300 degrees for 20 minutes, but We found that they came out slightly browned on the edges. We cut the last tray back to 15 minutes and they came out better. I'm sure that will vary depending on your oven, but keep an eye on them while they're baking!

Have you ever made French Macarons? And for the locals, have you found anywhere that sells these sweet little treats? I hear that you can get them at Dreamcakes on occasion, but I have yet to find them anywhere else.

Get Real Chat: Losing to Gain

Let's talk about fitness. I've been active all my life, but things change when you enter the real world after college. You don't walk back and forth to classes anymore. You sit at a desk or in a cubicle most of the day. Because of this, I took up running the fall after I graduated, something I previously hated. Lately I've been trying to run 4-5 days a week after work, and slowly but surely I've started to enjoy it. My social media accounts are flooded with Nike+ updates, I guess that's how I keep myself accountable. Spending time being active after a day at the office is one of the best ways for me to de-stress. Lately, though, I feel like I've been in a slump, like running wasn't enough. It seems like it's really hard to find time to fit an extra workout in your day. This week, I changed up my workouts by spending my lunch breaks in the fitness room with my 30 Day Shred DVD (granted, it's been very rainy so I can't go running). Jumping back into that one after a while is painful, but I'm definitely feeling a lot more energized.

So I'm setting a new goal, mixing things up a bit. Trying to find new ways to get in a good workout and being sure to do something active every day. Three days a week (at least) I plan to spend 20 minutes of my lunch our doing 30 Day Shred along with a post-work trip to the gym or the park. I'm dying to try Pure Barre and I would love to find some outdoor classes. Taking inspiration from The Holden ladies, I'm losing to gain. Gaining health, energy, and resolve.

In a few weeks I, along with some of my coworkers, am running The Color Run Birmingham. This will be my first 5k in a long time, so I'm glad that we're doing one that isn't too serious. Last year, SB and I ran the Color Me Rad 5k on the day he proposed. Almost a year later, I'm running The Color Run Birmingham on May 31. (Right now there's a great deal going on with Livingsocial where you can sign up for $27, check it out [and join us] here!) I guess it's a good sign that I'm still running a year later!

Make sure you tag your workout posts with #losingtogain and share your favorite ways to get in a workout! Also check out Chic in Academia's "Chic and Fit 2014"!

Style Wishlist: Summer Daydreams

Is anyone else daydreaming about being at the beach? Temperatures around here have been hot enough to lay by the pool (though the water is still pretty chilly) and it's making me want to take a trip down to the coast. I've been browsing around for some fun, summery pieces and these are my favorites so far:

A bright blue tote, roomy enough for all your beach [or poolside] essentials. This bag is my new favorite carry-all tote!

This sassy suit is perfect for lounging all day long.

A stack of bracelets for some added sparkle.

This sunny little phone case to brighten up your electronics.

Of course, I can't forget to pack something to read, whether its a stack of magazines or my latest book. Tonight I'm picking up Serena by Ron Rash on my way home from work, so it will make it's way into my tote when I head to the pool this weekend!

TGIF: What to Do This Weekend

I don't know about y'all, but this has been a crazy week for me. From the wild weather to a busy week the office, I couldn't be happier that it's finally Friday! Looking forward to the weekend, the weather is supposed to be pretty perfect for wandering around The Summit on Saturday. In fact, there's a fun little event going on at Swoozie's this weekend that I highly recommend you check out. They're having a Housewarming Party tomorrow from 11am until 2pm! They'll have a few indulgences like Mimosas and sweets from Gigi's Cupcakes, plus they'll be giving away some fabulous door prizes throughout the event.

One of the latest additions to the event is a trunk show from Over the Moon. They make the cutest banners and party favors--their Bridal Bliss Banner is so fabulous! So if you're looking for something to do this Saturday, head over to Swoozie's, I know you'll have a good time, and with all the discounts and prizes they've got going on, I bet you'll find something you can't go home without!

Back on the Shelf: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Synopsis from Goodreads:
"I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ."

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club… and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.

My Thoughts:
I had really high hopes for this book, especially after reading Gone Girl and Sharp Objects--both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Sadly, this one was not as enjoyable. Though it may just be my personal opinion, this one seemed a lot darker than the others. The scenes that are written in this book are described so vividly that it got a bit gruesome for my taste. I gave it three stars on Goodreads.

Have you read Dark Places? What did you think?